Italy to get third PPV DTT platform in 2008

After Mediaset Premium and La7Carta PiÃ¹, Italy will get a third pay-per-view digital terrestrial platform in 2008. The Pangea project is backed by the former CEO of Spanish private broadcaster Antenna 3, Maurizio Giunco.

Unlike the existing two, Pangea is not a proprietary but rather a multi-operator platform based on Nagravision technology. Giunco plans to offer the encryption system for the signal and the cards for the decoder to all interested media groups. The ambitious goal is to reach a turnover of E10 to E12 million in 2008.

The first channels should be on air in January 2008 and will include job training programmes for several Italian companies including LegaCoop as well as a channel for the Val d'Aosta region dedicated to minor interest sports, with 40,000 cards already ordered. A third offer is being prepared by Italian-French company Glamour Plus and will focus on adult content. Glamour Plus has already commissioned 500,000 cards of E20 each that will give access to five nights of programming.

Negotiations are currently underway with other media groups for more entertainment product, especially movies.